kthorne@umich.edu
This is a large quilt, about 56 X 56. It hangs on my sewing room wall. 2004
There are more quilts to view, see sidebar for categories.
I saw a quilt block idea online, and thought I would try this. The solid fabric at one corner of each block is one of my hand-dyed fabric (you can see some variations in them). I used up some of my scraps for the wonky strips. The quilting is a circular pattern on each block (and there is quilting in the border but it is hard to see in this photo until you see the detail below). Although in this photo the border fabric looks like it changes from dark at the left to lighter on the right, that is just a factor of the lighting in my sewing room. The detail photo captures the true color.
Detail
So, the title is from the song “Blue Skies”. The background fabric is one of my ice dyed pieces, and that blue is just wonderful. I need to do some more fabric like this! I love putting strips of colored/patterned fabric together, with no particular plan, and see what develops. The lower border piece is slightly wider than the top, as is often done when painted pieces are framed.
Detail:
I do love to make blocks and then arrange them on my design wall. Some of the fabrics in this piece are hand-dyed, others are commercial fabrics. And black/white prints are always welcome, right? Size is 44 x 44 inches. When I first started arranging blocks, I thought it would be good to have dark blocks at the lower left corner, and light blocks in upper right, with a blending of mid-value blocks in the center. But I found that I didn’t like that much, so I changed it so the lighter ones are “in the middle”.
Detail:
The center portion of this piece is ice-dyed fabric, the border is a commercial fabric. It’s 24 x 35 inches, really nice for a table runner, but can be displayed on a wall if you like. I’ve been busy making a few new art quilts, to enter a juried show. Another one will show up here soon!
Detail
I wanted to do a fast and fun project. Loved the lilac colored fabric I used for each center. This is a variation on the beloved log cabin pattern, with varied width of strips, and with angled corner pieces in each major block. Used some of my ice-dyed fabric plus commercial prints. Easy to do. Now I want to do more quilts like this, in different colors. Like eating potato chips!!
And, a detail, ready for quilting with safety pins in place:
My calico cat, Lily, enjoys assisting me with sewing projects. Especially if I am laying out blocks on the floor to decide on the pattern I want. This picture of her helping (and many quilters with cats can relate) is a bit blurry but you get the idea. Then I have a photo of the entire final layout (Lily must be taking her afternoon nap). I stacked each row and labeled it for the stitching of the top.
Finally, there is a photo of the quilt being used as a “topper” on a bed with another larger quilt underneath. Good way to turn a single bed quilt into the star of the show on a larger bed. 🙂
Final Layout
Blocks ready for assembly:
At Marilyn’s house, with another quilt underneath.
This piece started as a sampler for a planned king-size bed. I made several samples, with different colors and layouts. Since this didn’t make the cut for the final large project, it and two other samples become art pieces. I’m still practicing my mid-arm quilting, and still un-sewing on almost every piece! The movement of the machine is sensitive to any interference such as extra pieces of fabric hanging off the back as you stitch, and upon encountering such interference it has a tendency to zoom in some direction that was not in my plan. ! So I have to learn how to watch more carefully for these potential hazards. I think it will be a long journey.
28″ X 38″
Detail:
